Dr Sandeep Pandey

PakTribune Columnist

Dr Sandeep Pandey is a recepient of Ramon Magsaysay Award for emergent leadership (2002), Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, U.C., Berkeley, 1992. Went back to India to become a social activist. Took out a 1500 km Global Peace March for nuclear disarmament from the Indian nuclear testing site Pokaran to Sarnath, a place where Gautam Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment, beginning 11th May and ending on 6th August, 1999. Presently with Program on Science & Global Security, Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University for 5 weeks.

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Reader Comments

Shokat Saleem

Georgia

08 August, 2007

Uni-Polar Stategies

Embedding the nuclear deal in wide-ranging strategic cooperation
Presumably the need to justify the increasing closeness with the US to a domestic constituency is also costing policy makers in Delhi some sleepless nights. The overly ebullient “Let a new chapter begin” article has called on them to think beyond the nuclear deal to expand the ambit of India-US cooperation. In this instance, as it happens, the implementation has preceded the recommendation. The so-called expanded “cooperation” has already been initiated and has not been accorded an enthusiastic reception except by India’s ruling classes consisting—along with other groups--of such elite circles as the Confederation of Indian Industry and the associated upper crust of Indian society, the gilded and the glittering, who have in Arundhati Roy’s eloquent formulation effectively seceded from the rest of India. The inking of the Manmohan Singh-Bush civil nuclear cooperation agreement in July 2005 took place in the immediate wake of the signing of the New Framework for US-India Defense Cooperation by then External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The India visit by President Bush in March 2006 witnessed the signing of a slew of agreements on a broad range of issues encompassing science and technology, trade and agriculture. The implications of such expanded interaction have been studied in some detail in the pages of the Economic and Political Weekly. In a meticulously argued essay that appeared soon after the Bush visit to India, the scientist T. Jayaraman examined the political, economic, military and technological dimensions of India-US “co-operation.” [2.] Along with other categories of data, the scientist has highlighted the demand in the US-India CEO Forum report for a rollback in price controls of items on the essential drugs list. Given the potentially devastating nature of such a policy transformation, it is impossible not to conclude with T. Jayaraman that the price of the deal, in terms of US expectations for strategic compromises across the board over a broad spectrum of sectors, is far too high for India to pay.
“I don’t think the country is yet willing to recognize the U.S. is a benign power”
At present an upward spiral in the pricing of essential drugs may constitute no more than a specter in the nightmares of working class India. Or an anticipatory gleam in the eye of a Novartis or Eli Lilly CEO. The consequences of intensified defense cooperation between India and the US on the other hand have already come home to roost. As substantial protests by workers, intellectuals and Left Parties at the recent docking in the Chennai harbor of the aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz showed, the response from sections of both the government and the public has not been supportive of official Indian policy. Despite efforts on the part of high-placed naval officers and the Prime Minister himself to play down the implications of the warship’s presence in Indian territorial waters, Indians in significant numbers have perceived the USS Nimitz as a symbol of the remorseless US death machine, launching illegal and unprovoked war, laying nations waste and condemning their peoples to the horrors of life under occupation. The disclaimers from all the Prime Minister’s men were woefully inadequate to masking the real purpose of USS Nimitz’s presence in Asian waters—to menace the Persian Gulf with its deadly cargo until word is given to let slip the dogs of war on Iran. Efforts by advocates of the India-US strategic partnership to make light of the difference between US and Indian positions on Iraq succeed only in trivializing the devastation visited on the West Asian state by the United States. Such heartless, morally repugnant discourse will accomplish little by way of reconciling the politically informed sections of the Indian public to the impending embedding of the Indian military with the murderous American war machine. Little wonder that the syntax of National Security Advisor M.K.Narayanan became extraordinarily convoluted-- “I don’t think the country is yet willing to recognize the U.S. is a benign power”--when he was asked first if India should be willing to play in the future the role of a Britain in Asia and then more bluntly if the US military had been granted access to Indian bases as quid pro quo for civilian nuclear cooperation

Nikus

Hungary

09 August, 2007

Neuclear Deal

The current situation in India begs for alternate and cheap source of energy. Whether it comes through neuclear or wind or solar, that is immaterial. Indian administration so far imitates China, as per as policy decisions are concerned. China is investing huge amount for neuclear power. So, India is also doing the same. China is part of ITER, India is also same. Those who bring neuclear weapon matters, should think rationally as per as China is concerned. China is a criminal state. Taiwan, South Korea,Tibet and India know that very well (Sikkim surrendered to India for the fear of China. Plight of Tibetans are well known).
As per as relationship with US is concerned, we had missed the bus long back. We have got curse in form of Nehru and Indira Gandhi as prime ministers. They have tried to be tall leaders at the expense of the country. Nehru's fascination for socialism and China has brought nothing positive; China attacked India. India was part of NAM and opposed Israel; moslem countries supported tribal invastion of Kashmir. Every time India is attacked ( by Pakistan and China), Israel has provided arms and ammunition to defend US.
Look at South Korea. They had no so called great prime minister like Nehru. With the help of USA they have developed their country.Defeat of Sashi Tharoor has shown the actual status of India. India is poor country . It is receiving and need help from USA; this is reality. If we gain something from the closeness with USA, then we may loose something for USA. This is simple arithmatic.
As per as middle east is concerned, let the people there decide how to stay in peace.
In 1991, all the countries attacked Iraq. So, the blood of Iraq has stained everybodies hand (including India). For those who blame USA; what you people were doing when Iraqi children were deprived of medicine and food as part of sanction. Currently, the major sponsor of Iraq's problem is Saudi Arabia and Iran. If Iraq problem worsens Saudi,Iran and Syria should be punished.

Anwar Mahmood

Canada

09 August, 2007

Giving the gun to be shot in future with the same gun.

This US-India deal is more for sake of nuclear weapons acquisition by India rather than electrical power. This program at a cost of 35 billion dollars or more and consisting of 20 fast breeder and nuclear reactors will help India make 60-100 bombs a year. It will even help India make very much more powerful H-BOMBS as well.Any country with admix of 1000 H-Bombs and A-Bombs becomes a super power automatically.
But, electrical power energy through this grandly promoted treaty is only 8000 megawatt. IPI WITH EXPENSE OF ONLY 7 billion USD has capacity to generate more than 25000 megawatt power even with the GE constructed gas to power plants with normal 40-50 percent conversion factor.
But, there are tremendous road blocks and dangers in future more for America and less for Pakistan.As the American generals warned Mr Bush and it will be distinct and real possibilty and must happening when America hears this on some fine morning words as such:
"SORRY, YOUR TIME IS OVER. NOW, IT IS OUR TURN."
I would'nt trust even my brother if he is drunk with might and riches.
And China and russia have also accelerating their efforts to build mega nuclear arsenals as China is also starting to work day and night to get out of the rut of only 300-400 nukes. Even China will need 1000 nukes as soon as possible to be a super power. Invigorated China and Russia and India could easily turn mono-polar world into multi polar world.
But, India's terrible and helplessly poor state of energy insecurity is going to pull India away from the US aim of swaying it to US side.
Even if India is twisted to shun away from IPI, it will be begging for cheaper and the only economic optioned Iranian gas through IPI and that will come through Pak territory.
INDIA AND PAKISTAN WILL BE BEGGING IRAN FOR NOT JUST ONE, BUT MANY IPI LIKE PIPE LINES.THAT GAS ENERGY SOURCE FROM IRAN WILL CARRY 10, 20 OR THIRTY TIMES MORE ENERGY THAN THE 35 BILLION DOLLARS US-INDIA NUCLEAR DEAL CONSISTING OF 20 REACTORS AND ABLE TO PRODUCE ONLY 8000 MEGAWATTS AND MAY TAKE A DECADE TO BUILD. EVEN THE NUCLEAR ENGINEERING IN AMERICA IS RETIRED OR GONE AS AMERICA HAS NOT BUILT A SINGLE NEW REACTOR ON ITS OWN SOIL IN THE PAST 30 YEARS OR SO.FRANCE IS THE ONLY COUNTRY WITH FRESH AND LATTEST EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING NUCLEAR REACTORS AS MOST OF FRENCH POWER IS FROM NUCLEAR, WHILE AMERICA'S IS FROM COAL.
IPI WILL BE MUST NEED FOR THE VERY SURVIVAL OF INDIA IN THE FACE OF TERRIBLE ENERGY INSECURITY.EVEN THE OIL REFINING CAPACITY OF INDIA IS PROJECTED TO BE ABOUT 4 MILLION BARRELS PER DAY BY 2020 FROM CURRENT 2.6 MILLION BPD.
THREE OR FOUR PIPELINES OF IPI SIZE CAN SUPPLY MORE ENERGY AT HALF PRICE OR LESS AND WILL BE THE ONLY ANSWER FOR THE ENERGY SECURITY OF SOUTH ASIA. THOSE IPI PIPE LINES WILL TIE TOGETHER INDIA, PAKISTAN AND IRAN WITH THE MOST ENERGY SECURITY SOURCE FOR SOUTH ASIA.
PAKISTAN AND INDIA WILL BE EMBRACING EACH OTHER WITH ENERGY RELATED MARRIAGE. PAKS WILL BE NEUTRAL AND ONLY ON THE SIDE OF PEACE IF SOME ONE TELLS OFF AMERICA IN FUTURE WITH WORDS AS SUCH:
"SORRY, YOUR TIME IS OVER. NOW, IT IS OUR TURN."
AMERICAN ARMY GENERALA WARNED BUSH ON SUCH FUTURE SCENARIOS. PAKISTAN IS A SMALL FISH IN THE POND AND PAKS CAN ONLY AFFORD TO THRIVE ON PEACE AND PEACE ONLY. AND THIS PEACE HAS TO BE BOTH EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL.
LET THE OTHERS WISHFUL PLAY WITH DANGERS AND ANNIHILATIONS OF FUTURE AND THAT IS NOT THA PAK'S DOMAIN OF EXISTENCE.